I would like to suggest making installation instructions for software like Flash, Skype, TeamViewer etc. easily located in the website.

Thanks.

DonKult

Post subject: RE: Popular programs Posted: 14.11.2013, 12:23

Team Member

Joined: 2010-09-02
Posts: 485

Status: Offline

How to install software is easily accessible and described in the manual: apt-get update; apt-get install whatever-you-want

The "problem" is that some software can't be distributed this way because of various reasons (usually legal) and if you really want to have it you have to resort to hacks and the "old way" of installing stuff in a horrible unsafe way. We as a distribution do not recommend nor support this as we can't possible help with stuff we can't inspect ourselves. If we could, we could all still be using the other non-free OSes…

Note also that "popular" is a definition problem. I never used nor even installed "Skype" or "TeamViewer" (for the later, I don't even have an idea what it possibly could be), so its at least not popular with me and my peers…

And btw flash can be installed "easily" if you enable non-free sources… you just might want to consider if you can have a life without it instead. Many people (me included) can. You can also try one of the many free tools which try to replace certain parts of it like "gnash" if you really have to use it.

_________________MfG. DonKult
"I never make stupid mistakes. Only very, very clever ones." ~ The Doctor

elish

Post subject: RE: Popular programs Posted: 14.11.2013, 19:10

Joined: 2013-11-09
Posts: 33

Status: Offline

apt-get install whatever-you-want is not always possible.
An operating system with no possibility to watch videos on YouTube and talk with family is problematic.

hubi

Post subject: RE: Popular programs Posted: 14.11.2013, 23:33

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Joined: 2010-09-11
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Location: Vienna (AT)
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Adobe Flash you get with flashplugin-nonfree - just enable non-free in your Debian sources.

About Skype or Teamviewer - this is proprietary software. There should be instructions at the homepages ofthese programs.

I would like to suggest making installation instructions for software like Flash, Skype, TeamViewer etc. easily located in the website.

Thanks.

@ elish, as I understand you are quite new here. Aptosid is coming and will always come with only free programs. This is one of the legs aptosid is standing on. That means that you will never be able to get any of your suggested packages in on an aptosid iso because they are not free.

As others have written already you are free to install whatever you want on your computer after installation. Please read the manual. And if you want to understand the Debian policy about free and non-free programs read this: http://www.debian.org/social_contract

There are a lot of other linux distributions who comes with a lot of the non-free programs as default, you can use them if you want, but with aptosid you get a very fast and stable os without a lot of programs you probably don't need and you are free to install exactly what you want after the aptosid install.

elish

Post subject: RE: Re: Popular programs Posted: 17.11.2013, 19:04

Joined: 2013-11-09
Posts: 33

Status: Offline

My intention was to help new users with very little Linux knowledge trying this distribution.
The average user doesn't care about policies.
If things can not work out of the box there are three options:
1. do nothing -> potential users will skip aptosid
2. explain how to install proprietary software
3. offer free alternatives to popular programs
Last two options will ease transition from other operating systems.
Again, putting novice users in mind.

oddball

Post subject: Re: RE: Re: Popular programs Posted: 17.11.2013, 22:04

Joined: 2010-09-11
Posts: 109
Location: Skåne, Sweden
Status: Offline

elish wrote:

My intention was to help new users with very little Linux knowledge trying this distribution.
The average user doesn't care about policies.
If things can not work out of the box there are three options:
1. do nothing -> potential users will skip aptosid
2. explain how to install proprietary software
3. offer free alternatives to popular programs
Last two options will ease transition from other operating systems.
Again, putting novice users in mind.

That is a very good intention elish. But my intention is to tell you that it's not the aptosid developers goal to make a distributions for novices. If they did want to do that it wouldn’t be aptosid anymore. Aptosid is:

Quote:

What is aptosid? - Debian Hot & Spicy!

Welcome to aptosid : Current release: aptosid 2013-01

aptosid is an operating system based on the Debian GNU/Linux unstable branch, codenamed sid, and our ISOs hold fast to the core values and the Social Contract of Debian (DFSG).

We aim to be 100% compatible with debian sid, and we are at the forefront regarding the definition of a 'rolling' distribution.

Using aptosid, with Debian, will give you access to over 30,000 free and open source packages, be it for private, business or public use and will provide you with the cutting edge of the latest software currently available.

If you are new to aptosid and do not know where to start, then look at the manual's Quick Start page.

That is the goal with aptosid and what the developer wants to do.

One other intention from me was to tell you that if you suggest things witch is not fitting in the description of aptosid you will not get anywhere with that. It's a little like buying a Ford and then tell the manufacturers that you want it to be like a Volkswagen